Fla. Parents May Take Over Pensacola 'Voucher' School

Three years after becoming a national symbol of a high-stakes
approach to school choice, a Florida elementary school slated for
closing is poised to be turned over to community members who want to
run it as a charter school.

After voting in January to close A.A. Dixon Elementary School in
Pensacola, the Escambia County school board voted March 4 to lease the
building for $1 a year to parents and community members who want to
convert the site into a charter school.

The only catch to the deal could come from one board member who has
said that he may ask the board to vote again on the closure, before a
lease is signed.

Dixon found itself in the national spotlight in 1999, when its
students and those at another Pensacola school labeled as "failing"
under Florida's accountability system became eligible for
state-financed vouchers to attend private schools.

Although Dixon's test scores improved after that first year, and the
school was taken off the failing list, its enrollment has declined more
than 25 percent since then. The shrinking enrollment, coupled with a
budget crisis, prompted the district board to close the school to cut
costs. ("Board to Close
Fla. 'Voucher' School," Feb. 6, 2002.)

Still, the 330-student school has its supporters. Dixon Elementary
parents and community activists have rallied to the school's defense in
recent months. They have pleaded with board members to find a way to
keep the school open.

Moving Forward

When it became clear that there was little hope to save the site as
a regular public school, parents lobbied to convert Dixon to an
independent public charter school.

They were elated to get their wish.

"We are tired of the roller-coaster," said Nicole Brandon, the
president of the Dixon PTA. "We are looking forward to moving forward
and making this [charter] a success."

It's not clear yet how the new school will be organized, but parents
already are in talks with a local charter school operator.

Even as Dixon Elementary's fate as a regular public school appears
sealed, however, the school board member who represents the community
in which Dixon is located has voiced second thoughts about his closure
vote.

Elmer Jenkins voted against reconsidering the closing at the March 4
meeting, but he said in an interview last week that he "has some
regrets" about his stance. He said he had "received so much heat" that
he was "willing to look at it again if I made a mistake."

Mr. Jenkins, a 15-year board veteran, said he voted against
reconsidering the closure because he was afraid that if the board
didn't vote to close the school this year, the school would be
subjected to additional uncertainty next year. As of late last week, he
had not decided whether he would attempt to reopen the issue with the
board.

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